Lo, who heads the university’s department of surgery and Queen Mary Hospital’s surgical department and its liver transplant division, will succeed current Shenzhen hospital chief executive Professor Grace Tang Wai-king on November 14 for a period of five years.

“I am very happy and excited with this opportunity. This hospital has been an influential and different one since it was open four years ago,” Lo told the Post.

Lo stated that he would continue his work for the time being in Queen Mary Hospital and the University of Hong Kong after assuming office in the Shenzhen hospital.

“I would not leave Queen Mary Hospital ... we would continue liver transplant and I would not give up patients in Hong Kong,” said Lo.

As the terms of Lo’s positions in Queen Mary and the university would end in June next year, a spokesman for the medical faculty said recruitment would begin for Lo’s successors.

“The faculty of medicine will coordinate with Queen Mary Hospital and begin recruitment according to standard procedures, with the aim of appointing appropriate candidates for a seamless handover,” the spokesman said.

The departure of Lo, a key figure in the hospital’s liver transplant team, followed the resignation of another heavyweight transplant expert, Dr Chan See-ching, who has gone to work in the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital – a prestigious private hospital popular with the rich.

Professor Gabriel Leung, dean of the university’s medical faculty, said Lo’s appointment was confirmed by the HKU council following a recommendation by the selection committee, followed by unanimous approval by the Shenzhen hospital’s board of directors last Thursday.

“The hospital has been an important pioneer in the medical development between Hong Kong, Shenzhen and the mainland. Professor Lo’s [appointment] will be a heavy responsibility,” Leung said.

He said the hospital would continue to focus on teaching, research and clinical services under Lo’s leadership.

Lo is well known internationally for his achievements in liver transplants, but political controversy has also dogged him, including support for deferring the appointment of liberal scholar Professor Johannes Chan Man-mun as a university pro-vice-chancellor.

In a leaked recording from an HKU council closed-door meeting, Lo was heard criticising Chan’s academic background, saying he was not qualified to take up the job.

The professor was also accused of feigning an injury like a cheating football player by falling down during a confrontation with students following a council decision to defer a decision on the appointment of Chan, who was not in the end given the post.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: